In April 2004, Piers Moore Ede embarked on a very unusual journey. Disheartened by a world seemingly hooked on material wealth and scientific fact, he decided to travel the world in search of something completely other - the magical, the mystical, the numinous. In "All Kinds of Magic", Piers recounts this voyage of re-enchantment, which led him from snow-blanketed villages in the Himalayas to a dappled, ancient Sufi quarter in Delhi; from the world's largest religious festival on the banks of the swollen Ganges to tiny, covert communities of whirling dervishes in rural Turkey. He met remarkable individuals who appeared to be able to heal any ailment, channel powerful deities, glimpse the future or transcend everyday consciousness by imbibing strange, bitter herbs. Along the way he began to explore what spirituality means to us now, and what it can and ought to mean in our looming future of political, economic and environmental uncertainty. Lyrical and clear-sighted, "All Kinds of Magic" is a fascinating quest to the hidden world of miracles that is at once deeply personal and universal in its scope.
All Kinds of Magic: A Quest for Meaning in a Material World
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'A wild pilgrimage across the mystic world, taken in order to embark on the shortest and hardest journey of all - the almost impossible one from the head to the heart. Piers Moore Ede is both an elegant and courageous traveller and teller of this rite of passage' Justine Hardy, author of The Wonder House 'Piers Moore Ede writes with a rare sensitivity, describing the lands that pass beneath his feet with lyrical prose. His work is reminiscent of the great names in British travel writing. I could not recommend his work more highly' Tahir Shah, author of The Caliph's House PRAISE FOR HONEY AND DUST 'In page after page of beautifully written prose, Moore Ede's passion for the sweet nectar, his curiosity as to how it is produced and his determination to find hunters who will risk their lives to find it are deftly combined with his own holistic belief that his search will miraculously cure his depression. I feel hopeful it did, for this most unusual, compelling and restorative book has certainly vanquished mine' Alexander Waugh, Mail on Sunday 'It is [Moore Ede's] quest for a personal, spiritual regeneration that makes this such a compelling book' Daily Telegraph
Book Description
A personal search for the mystical and miraculous, from the acclaimed author of Honey and Dust
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Nick 3029
Format:Hardcover
This book charts Moore Ede's journeys through India and Turkey, as he travels around in search of spiritual experiences. He meets various gurus and attends religious happenings and festivals, in between which he describes the landscape and people.
As you would expect, a man who's searching for unusual experiences in India doesn't have to look far, and it's not long before he meets some extremely bizarre people and gets into some strange and at times frightening situations. Depending which way you look at it, Moore Ede is either brave or foolhardy, as he seems happy to walk around remote parts of India on his own with a fistful of cash, merrily following people he meets to even more remote areas on a promise of meeting spiritual gurus. Happily, he somehow avoids getting mugged, and we are treated to a vivid portrait of India and then Turkey, and their various religions and beliefs. Accounts of his experiences are peppered with quotations from writers, travellers and poets.
The book is full of conflicting ideas and forces - not only the strange juxtapositions and divisions of a developing country, where modern technology, lifestyles and attitudes contrast with ancient traditions and extreme poverty, but also Moore Ede's internal conflicts. He is searching for something beyond rational thought, but can't help analysing his mystical experiences from a rational perspective. Whilst the physical journey has its tribulations, it is his inner journey which proves much tougher.
Having described all manner of magical events, some quite obviously fake and some apparently beyond rational explanation, the narrative progresses to an ultimately uplifting ending.
All Kinds of Magic was a really enjoyable book, extremely well written and researched, that has left me wanting to visit the places he describes.
As you would expect, a man who's searching for unusual experiences in India doesn't have to look far, and it's not long before he meets some extremely bizarre people and gets into some strange and at times frightening situations. Depending which way you look at it, Moore Ede is either brave or foolhardy, as he seems happy to walk around remote parts of India on his own with a fistful of cash, merrily following people he meets to even more remote areas on a promise of meeting spiritual gurus. Happily, he somehow avoids getting mugged, and we are treated to a vivid portrait of India and then Turkey, and their various religions and beliefs. Accounts of his experiences are peppered with quotations from writers, travellers and poets.
The book is full of conflicting ideas and forces - not only the strange juxtapositions and divisions of a developing country, where modern technology, lifestyles and attitudes contrast with ancient traditions and extreme poverty, but also Moore Ede's internal conflicts. He is searching for something beyond rational thought, but can't help analysing his mystical experiences from a rational perspective. Whilst the physical journey has its tribulations, it is his inner journey which proves much tougher.
Having described all manner of magical events, some quite obviously fake and some apparently beyond rational explanation, the narrative progresses to an ultimately uplifting ending.
All Kinds of Magic was a really enjoyable book, extremely well written and researched, that has left me wanting to visit the places he describes.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By alice
Format:Hardcover
this is a thought provoking and often illuminating read - Moore Ede uses beautiful prose too- well worth reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Rosie
Format:Hardcover
It was a joy to read Piers' beautifully expressed account of his time in India. His search for a deeper meaning to his life resulted in many adventures: some amusing,some ("miracles") inexplicable and one, at least, rather terrifying. His vivid descriptions evoked memories of my own trips to India in the 1980's and I was transported back to the land of sights, sounds - and smells! His experiences and reactions left me with much food for thought. I thoroughly recommend this book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most fascinating read in a long, long time
I picked this up in the library yesterday, read it in one sitting (yes, a long night it was) and then felt compelled to write a review because I enjoyed it so, so much. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Anna
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Journey through a mystical world
All Kinds of Magic by Piers Moore Ede is a book about a journey to look for people who live life differently and who exist in a non-materialistic world. Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2010 by laurie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magic mirror book
In April 2004, Piers Moore Ede embarked on a very unusual journey. Disheartened by a world seemingly hooked on material wealth and scientific fact, he decided to travel the world... Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2010 by rahman
4.0 out of 5 stars
Uplifting reading
A perfect and uplifting story which takes the reader to a new level. An exceptional travel book, which takes the reader from Honey and Dust. Read more
Published on 27 Oct 2010 by Sara Nynne Rankloeve
5.0 out of 5 stars
great book about magic
This is completely a good read!! It will enlighten and inspire you in many ways...Apart from Harry Potter series, this book is completely amazing and will gives you more... Read more
Published on 26 Oct 2010 by samkhowaja
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magical Book That Will Give Magical Experience
Apart from Harry Potter series, this book is completely amazing and will gives you more information to the journey of magical, mystic, and spiritual soul. Read more
Published on 24 Oct 2010 by wikuowen
5.0 out of 5 stars
a must read book!!
Really enjoyable brilliantly-written travel book which tells more of Piers Moore Ede travel in the world in search for something different , His spiritual journey began here where... Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2010 by urcheekyangel
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